Chinese Canadians mark the 59th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act by reminding the Canadian Government to resolve the longstanding redress issue. The Chinese Head Tax was replaced by the Chinese Exclusion Act was imposed in 1923 and separated families for the next 24 years before it was repealed on May 17, 1947.

(Toronto) Chinese Canadians mark the 59th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act by reminding the Canadian Government to resolve the longstanding redress issue. The Chinese Head Tax was replaced by the Chinese Exclusion Act was imposed in 1923 and separated families for the next 24 years before it was repealed on May 17, 1947.

“We have heard the many heart-wrenching stories of family separation at the community consultations,” Dr. Joseph Wong, Founding President of CCNC said today. “The first generation children were also directly affected by the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act.”

Earlier this week, CCNC sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper outlining its proposal for a just and honourable resolution. “We are seeking an apology and individual symbolic financial redress for those directly affected, including the few remaining Head Tax payers and surviving spouses and surviving children who experienced 62 years of legislated racism,” Victor Wong, Executive Director of CCNC said today. “CCNC is urging the Canadian Government to respect the family unit by treating the Head Tax payers and spouses at the same level.”

Over the past few weeks, CCNC and other redress-seeking groups have collected contact information from more than 1200 families seeking redress including more than 170 surviving Head Tax payers and spouses. Families with surviving Head Tax payers and surviving spouses are reminded to submit their contact information as soon as possible. The CCNC registration form is available online at www.ccnc.ca or by email at national@ccnc.ca or in person on weekdays at 2pm – 4pm at the CCNC office in Toronto.

CCNC is a national human rights organization with 27 chapters across Canada. Established in 1980, CCNC has campaigned for redress of the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act since 1984 with other redress-seeking groups.

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For more information, please contact:

Dr. Joseph Wong, CCNC Founding President, (416) 806-0082 (Toronto)

Victor Wong, Executive Director, (416) 977-9871 (Toronto)

May 17, 2006

To: The Editor

Lee Ming Fung strode up to the microphone to speak directly to Heritage Minister Bev Oda who was in Montreal that day to convene a consultation on the Head Tax redress issue. She told of her family’s hardship and suffering from the Chinese Head Tax and long years of separation due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, holding up her late father’s laundryman’s bag for emphasis. Many of the 300 seniors in attendance nodded in agreement, some quietly sobbing. All were moved by her intervention. Hers is a story of many of the first generation children now themselves in their senior years. They were also directly affected by the racist legislation having endured poverty, lost opportunity, family separation and racial discrimination .

May 17, 2006 marks the 59^th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Canada used Chinese labour to build the CPR to fulfill the National Dream and unite the country from West to East. But soon after the Last Spike was driven, the National Dream became a nightmare as the Canadian government imposed a $50 head tax in an effort to restrict Chinese immigration. By 1904, the head tax was raised to $500, a sum worth two years of wages at the time.

Groups continued to agitate for stronger anti-Chinese legislation and on July 1, 1923, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to “prohibit” Chinese immigration. For the next 24 years, only a handful of Chinese were allowed to enter Canada. This legislation separated families for decades and generations and some families were never able to reunite. Such was the destructive nature of Canada’s first anti-family law.

My own grandfather paid the Head Tax in 1912 and returned to China on four occasions to marry and father four sons. He was unable to bring his family over to Canada until the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1947. Even then, the Canadian Government imposed restrictive quotas and it was not until 1968 when he was able to unite the entire family in Canada.

Can you imagine 55 years of family separation? And we are luckier than some who never met their father or grandfather. And we are lucky because despite the difficulties, my Grandfather still believed in Canada.

For more than 21 years, the Chinese Canadian community has sought redress of the racist Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act. It started in 1984 when Dak Leon Mark asked Mrs. Margaret Mitchell, then MP for Vancouver East to assist him in seeking a “refund” of the head tax and preferable with interest. More than 4000 head tax payers and families have registered with the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC).

Successive governments have failed to address this longstanding injustice. Over the past 21 years, an estimated 2000 head tax payers and spouses have passed away waiting for redress. Some pundits submit that this very issue cost the Liberals key support in the last federal election.

The new Harper Government appears willing to listen and open to a genuine reconciliation. An apology and appropriate redress was promised during the election campaign and reiterated in the speech from the Throne. Government-organized consultations were held in 6 cities across Canada. CCNC has also organized at least 6 community forums since March to gather community input. Already, the restorative impact has been felt. There is a new confidence: it is safe to share our common experience. As we move forward, there is a re-evaluation of our own self-worth both at the individual and community level.

The Chinese Canadian community seeks a genuine reconciliation, one that includes a sincere apology and meaningful symbolic financial redress for the few remaining Head Tax payers and spouses and for the first generation children. It is this group that was directly affected by 62 years of racist legislation. It is only these people who can really forgive Canada. How ironic that they should hold the key to restoring the National Dream of a truly united Canada. It’s time to right this historic injustice.

As July 1st approaches, do we mark yet another anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and Humiliation Day? Or do we celebrate a reconciliation, and begin a transformation and build the respectful Canada that my Grandfather and those of his generation always believed in?

Victor Wong